Ronaldo: "For me, the 2016 title has the magnitude of a World Cup"
7/7/2026 8:09:29 PM
Cristiano Ronaldo left the pitch in tears after losing to Spain. Later, more composed, in the mixed zone, he reviewed the match and defended his legacy with Portugal: "It was a very evenly contested match, Spain had that little bit of luck to score in the final minutes, but that's football. It was a well-fought match."
Last World Cup: "Sad to go out of the World Cup like this, but as I said yesterday in the press conference, I gave everything, I gave my best and I leave with a clear conscience. That’s football, that’s the life of a footballer, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose and you have to keep going. The truth is that it was my last World Cup, yes, but as for the rest, I’ll have time to think, be with my family, not decide things with a hot head and carry on with life".
His career: "With a clear conscience, I have given my best, I won three titles for Portugal before Cristiano had won any titles, so I’m happy. The truth is that the greatest title I won with the national team was in 2016; for me it has the same significance as a World Cup, honestly. That is why, I repeat, I leave with a clear conscience, having done my best, and that’s it."
The future: "Keeping a cool head, staying calm and then deciding in the best way, talking with my family, talking with the people who love me. Not deciding right now, because I think that would shift the attention to something personal and I'm not going to do that, but I leave sad, naturally, when you lose it's always like that, but also calm because I have given my best."
Roberto Martínez: "I loved working with coach Roberto. He is a great person and an excellent manager. He won a title for Portugal and I will never forget him. I am very grateful to him for everything he gave to Portugal. Jorge Jesus? This is not the time to talk about who is coming, and it is not my place to do so. Whoever has the responsibility to choose will decide".
Last World Cup: "Sad to go out of the World Cup like this, but as I said yesterday in the press conference, I gave everything, I gave my best and I leave with a clear conscience. That’s football, that’s the life of a footballer, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose and you have to keep going. The truth is that it was my last World Cup, yes, but as for the rest, I’ll have time to think, be with my family, not decide things with a hot head and carry on with life".
His career: "With a clear conscience, I have given my best, I won three titles for Portugal before Cristiano had won any titles, so I’m happy. The truth is that the greatest title I won with the national team was in 2016; for me it has the same significance as a World Cup, honestly. That is why, I repeat, I leave with a clear conscience, having done my best, and that’s it."
The future: "Keeping a cool head, staying calm and then deciding in the best way, talking with my family, talking with the people who love me. Not deciding right now, because I think that would shift the attention to something personal and I'm not going to do that, but I leave sad, naturally, when you lose it's always like that, but also calm because I have given my best."
Roberto Martínez: "I loved working with coach Roberto. He is a great person and an excellent manager. He won a title for Portugal and I will never forget him. I am very grateful to him for everything he gave to Portugal. Jorge Jesus? This is not the time to talk about who is coming, and it is not my place to do so. Whoever has the responsibility to choose will decide".